Transcript Steps to College Search Success
Junior Assembly Presentation Preparing for after high school
Agenda
• • • • • After high school Words of Wisdom Preparing for a College Search Scholarships Next Steps for Juniors
After High School
• • • • • Career/Employment Military Technical/Vocational Junior/Community Public or Private Four Year
Self-Examination
• • • • What do I want to have? What do I want to take away from this year? What kind of grades do I want? Why is that important? Is that important?
Where do I want to go? Where do I want to travel? Who do I want to visit? Why is going to that place important to me? What will I take away from that experience?
What do I want to do? What kind of experiences do I want to have? How can I leave a legacy at school and in my community? What kind of projects am I interested in? What kind of careers would give me the opportunity to work on projects like that? Do I need college to find a career I love?
Who do I want to be? How can I become the kind of person I want to be? How can I get involved with the things I want to be involved with? Why are those things important to me?
Words of Wisdom
If you don’t have a major, it’s OK. More than half of new college students say a very important reason for going to college is “to find my purpose in life.”
Discuss
• • • Why college? Work? Military?
What do I want to get out of college? Work? Military?
What special talents and interests will I bring to a new community of learners?
Career
• What career do you hope to pursue? Need help finding a career? www.careercruising.com
Username: lisle Password: careers bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ Click on “Majors and Career Search ” under
Words of Wisdom
You don’t need to go far away. 88% of high school students go to college in their home state.
Words of Wisdom
Relax… 70% of colleges accept an average of 70% of their applicants.
Preparing for a College Search
Know Yourself
• • • • • • Values Ambitions Achievements Academic Strengths Interests Your Standout Talents
Discuss
• • • Share with your teachers and parents your thoughts about your future.
What sets you apart?
Be ready, starting next week, to discuss the questions on slide 3.
Types of Colleges
Type Two year Description Tuition
Degrees offered: Associates Provides: A way to ease into college / take general college classes for credit.
Typically have agreements with four year colleges to transfer credits.
Typically around $4,000/year
Admission Requirements
Open-door admission policy
Types of Colleges
Type Description Tuition Four year Degrees offered:
Bachelors and beyond Provides: A well-rounded college experience that includes an academic area of study.
State: Typically under $17,000/year
Private:
Typically more than $22,000/year • • • • • • •
Admission Requirements
SAT or ACT GPA Class rank Essay Extracurricular activities Letters of recommendation Transcripts
Choosing Your College Priorities
Discuss • • • • • • What is important to you?
Location Academics Size Campus Appeal Social Life Total Cost – Including aid
Good Fit
• • • • • • www.collegecountdown.com
www.collegeboard.org
www.cappex.com
www.firstinthefamily.org
www.zinch.com
Many other sites to explore!
Financial Fit
• • • • www.collegecountdown.com
Discover the colleges your family can afford.
May help alleviate tension between you and your parents.
Provides a great conversation piece and you will have more of an idea of your family’s finances.
What Is Financial Fit?
•
Determining Reasonable Debt
•
Assessing Your Affordability
•
Learning how to Match Your Affordability with the Net Price/Cost of Colleges
Right College, Right Price (The Perfect Fit)
About College Admission Tests
•
ACT
– Consists of four subtests: English, Math, Reading, and Science – Writing component is recommended – – Top composite score is 36 State ACT Offered March 3 rd vs. State pays Counselor registers individual National ACT On a Saturday Individual pays Individual registers – www.actstudent.org
to register for a National ACT (CEEB 142628) •
SAT
– Consists of three tests: Reading, Math, Writing – Each test is scored on a scale of 200-800 – www.collegeboard.com
to register (CEEB 142628)
What information do college admission officers review?
• Grades / Overall GPA • Strength of high school course selections • Admission Test Scores (www.fairtest.org) • Essay • Teacher and counselor recommendations • Class rank • Student’s demonstrated interest • Personal accomplishments • Personality characteristics • Courses in progress Junior and Senior year • Facebook/Twitter - any multimedia facet
Collecting College Information – Where to go
• Cappex.com - College search made simple. Your first stop to kick-start your college and scholarship search • nacacnet.org National Association for College Admission Counseling. Offers national college fair information and articles about the college process • collegeboard.org Information about the SAT and college and scholarship search •
actstudent.org
– to register for ACT •
collegecountdown.com
– discover your financial fit
Scholarships
Merit Scholarship Tips
• • • • • •
Merit scholarships are where the money is.
There is more than $11 billion in merit scholarships available to students from colleges Not just for “A” students Many awards emphasize leadership or school involvement Nearly all colleges offer merit aid scholarships The average merit scholarship is $5,000 Many awards can be renewed year after year
• • • • • • • •
Scholarship Resources
Fastweb.com
- Private scholarships
fafsa.ed.gov
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid January 1 of your senior year
Studentaid.ed.gov
about paying for college - The federal government’s website
MeritAid.com
- $11 billion in merit scholarships Cappex.com Scholarship matching
finaid.org
of financial aid - Free student resource for learning about all types
collegeboard.org
– scholarship search
Senior Assembly - 2015
Next Steps
Next Steps for Juniors
In School
Stay focused on academics Keep a good academic load for senior year Meet with your school counselor Stay involved in school activities Shadow in an area that interests you
Standardized Testing
Prepare for and register for ACT / SAT tests Register for AP tests as appropriate
College Exploration
Explore colleges on the Web Visit colleges if you can Meet with college representatives Attend college fairs Professional email address/voicemail/etc.
Lisle High School’s Timeline
• • • • • • • •
College Night – November 6 th
(Registration due October 30 th ) March 3, 2015 – State ACT Begin applying September 1, 2015 August – Senior Assembly Complete FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid – January 1, 2016 February 2016 - COD hosts the FAFSA made easy FAFSA Workshop - LSHS Final Decision – May 1, 2016
Illinois Student Assistance Corp
• • • • • Laura Monteagudo will be in the library twice a month to help with college and scholarship searches and financial aid questions!
October 16 th & 23 rd 12 – 3:00 Like Laura on Facebook – Username: ISACCOD3 [email protected]
(630) 465-1927